A/N We do love our fluff don't we? I know I do. So hopefully some of this chapter will warm the heart of your cockles. There is also a bit of Violet, because hey... she is just so much fun to write.

Once again I have been overwhelmed by the amazing support I have received for this story. I would not have thought such a thing was possible so, to all the people who have reviewed from the beginning, the new reviewers and every darn gosh one of you who are following... THANK YOU! Mwwwwaaaah! xx

Enjoy x

Mary looked up from the bookshelf where she had been standing as Matthew strode purposefully into the library.

"Carlisle is just behind me." He said simply as he crossed the room.

His hands on her waist, he bent his head to hers as their lips met. The kiss seemed to go on forever. Mary's fingers reached up to play with the hair at the nape of his neck. He pulled her closer as their kiss deepened, the initial purpose almost entirely forgotten. Eventually they parted, both slightly breathless. Her brown eyes searched his blue.

"So where is he then?" She asked softly.

"Who?" Matthew replied.

She arched an eyebrow and tapped him playfully on the chest.

It was a very cheeky and somewhat smug Matthew who straightened his white tie and sat in one of the wing backed chairs.

"You are not supposed to be enjoying this quite so much." She scolded. It was hard to be cross when he was being so utterly silly. "Didn't you ever hear about the little boy who cried wolf?"

"You were the one who encouraged me to be devious. I was merely practising." He said with a twinkle in his eye.

She shook her head in mock despair.

"Mr Carson, I wonder if I might have a word." Anna said nervously as she stepped through the doorway into the butler's pantry.

"I will leave you to it." The housekeeper said, although she made no move to leave.

"That's not necessary, Mrs Hughes." Anna said respectfully. "I am sure that Lady Mary will have no objection to you hearing this."

At the name of the eldest Crawley, Carson adopted an accustomed look of concern. "Is everything all right Anna?"

"No, Mr Carson, I think we could say things are far from it. And to be fair, I have had my own part to play of which I am not proud." She looked a little crestfallen before renewing her resolve. "However, Lady Mary understands and has forgiven me and she believes that between us we can rectify matters. That is if you would be willing to help?"

A confused glance passed between the housekeeper and the butler as Anna closed the door, lest they be overheard.

The family and guests had assembled for pre dinner drinks in the drawing room. Peter Gordon played uncomfortably with his tie, as though it was something he was not used to wearing. The door opened.

"The Dowager Countess my lord." Carson announced.

Sweeping into the room, Violet took in the company.

"Am I late?" She asked.

"Mama, you are always late." Robert said amiably as he bent to kiss her cheek.

Gordon almost seemed to want to disappear into the woodwork, but the old lady's sharp eyes missed nothing. She looked the usurper up and down with some distaste, as though he were a specimen in a jar.

"You must be the young man who is causing all the upset? We have not been formally introduced."

Gordon seemed to wilt under the Dowagers steely gaze.

"Hmmm, yes… um… no… Lady Grantham. Although to upset anyone was… um… not my intention."

"You're intention or not, you seem to have succeeded splendidly." She said dismissively before moving on, like a galleon in full sail, towards Matthew.

"My dear boy." She said expansively, as she allowed him to kiss her cheek.

Cora and Robert exchanged a glance of amazement.

"And Mary dear. Is that a new dress?"

Her granddaughter smoothed the red creation before smiling at her fiancé.

"No Granny. You must have seen it many times before. But it is the one I was wearing when Matthew proposed, so I suppose it has become something of a favourite."

"I didn't realise you were so sentimental Lady Mary." Sir Richard said coldly.

The older woman smiled indulgently. As if to distract Mary from saying something too impolite, she turned her attention to Sir Richard. By now the others had resumed their conversation.

"And what have you done with my daughter Sir Richard?"

"Lady Rosamond decided to take the train back to London this evening; she had some calls to make. I decided to stay on a few more days." He said charmingly.

"Really? I do hope she took it well?"

"Took what well Lady Grantham?"

"That you are not about to be Lancelot to her Guinevere?"

Sir Richard appeared to be deciding what to say, but the Dowager had no intention of letting him say it.

"But I warn you Sir Richard, with your proclivity for Grantham women, it will be no good planning to set your cap at me."

"Will Matthew being taking any more trips to London?" Cora asked as she got into bed. Robert sat on the other side, taking off his slippers and his robe.

"No, I don't expect it will be of any use, and I can hardly ask him to go gadding about the countryside with his inheritance hanging in the balance."

"So you think that this may really be Patrick?"

Robert gave a sigh. "I don't know, that is the honest answer. There is nothing in the man that I can see, to resemble Patrick in the slightest, but Murray is checking the paperwork so we shall have to wait and see."

Cora averted her eyes. "But if it is proved to be Cousin Patrick…"

"Then of course, as my son in law I shall do everything in my power to help Matthew as much as he needs it. Although to be fair, he does prefer self reliance." There was a touch of pride in the earl's voice.

"But with Mary's tastes?" Cora asked.

"I've no doubt that she will adapt. Our daughter is not perhaps the pampered flower we imagine her to be."

Cora pursed her lips. This conversation was not going how she wanted at all.

"Matthew did suggest something curious to me this afternoon though. He suggested that we utilise our contacts in Ireland." Robert continued oblivious.

"Sybil? But with the baby coming…"

"No, not Sybil, Branson. At first I was completely against it, but now that I've had the opportunity to consider. What Matthew says is true. Branson is a journalist, his stock in trade is finding out things and unearthing people. If he could locate this relative of Vera Bates, then we might have a chance. She is after all more likely to talk to one of her own countrymen, and this would be a way for Branson to ingratiate himself into the family. Although I will admit I do not relish the idea of asking him."

"Are you sure he even wants to be part of the family?" Cora said.

"They may be in Ireland, but I am sure, for Sybil's sake, he may consider helping. Plus I believe he and Bates were on good terms, and despite everything, he does have an understanding of injustice."

"Ah." Cora sighed. "Our girls are all going to be so far away."

This caught Robert's attention. "What do you mean? Only Sybil is away."

She picked absently at the eiderdown. "Well Mary too my darling. I doubt Matthew will want to stay at Downton if he is no longer required to. I expect he will want to move back to his home and Mary as his wife will go with him."

The American could see that she had struck a chord with her husband. She already knew how deeply he felt Sybil's absence, now to have Mary leaving?

"There is no indication that Matthew will want to leave, or even that he will need to until we hear back from Murray. I am hoping he will stay here. This is his home." Robert said firmly.

"There is that hope Robert, but he did leave before, when he and Mary separated the first time. What's to say that losing Downton would not be equally as likely to send him back to Manchester? I doubt he would want to see Patrick in a place that he had come to feel was to be his?"

"I will speak to him in the morning." Robert decided. "Find out what his plans are."

Cora looked coy. "Of course, you could always ask him to go up to London for a few days to give Mary a chance to get to know Patrick again."

The Earl of Grantham looked at his wife sharply.

"Cora. I hope you are not suggesting what I think you are suggesting."

She looked completely innocent. "I am not suggesting anything. All I am saying is that if they do turn out to be cousins it may be a good idea for them to be on friendly terms. He would after all be head of the family one day?"

Roberts's eyes hardened. "Do you never give up?" he said angrily. "I wondered why you had placed Gordon next to her at dinner this evening. Not enough that Mary has found herself a good, decent, brave man who obviously worships the ground she walks on. You want to throw her at this… this… stranger, just in case she will not be a Countess!"

He stood up.

"Robert, I was only saying… it is what we wanted."

He stared incredulously. "What I wanted is for my daughters to be happy and secure. With Matthew Mary will be just that. What you want…? I really couldn't begin to imagine any more."

He put on his robe.

"Where are you going?" Cora asked. She had been visibly shocked by her husband's outburst.

"I think I will sleep in my dressing room tonight." And with a final look of annoyance at his wife, he left.

.